Benefit fraudsters pay the price

Lyla Turner, 53, of Central Avenue , Southend, is currently serving a 14-month jail sentence for hiding £77,000 savings while fraudulently claiming Housing and Council Tax Benefit.

She pleaded guilty at Basildon Crown Court to dishonestly claiming benefits worth £36,409.76 by making false statements to Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.

Mrs Turner filled out forms claiming her capital was under £2,000, but investigations revealed she had access to funds which at one stage topped £99,000.

She failed to declare that she had bought a £33,000 static caravan and enjoyed regular pension payments whilst being paid benefit.

She was not entitled to any of the Housing or Council Tax Benefit payments she received from 2001 to 2008.

On several occasions she sent letters to the Council pleading poverty, and on one occasion claimed that times were desperate for her, although in reality she had £77,000 stashed away.

Mrs Turner transferred this sum to a new account the day after writing to the Council to say she had closed the original account many years earlier.

Whilst claiming benefits illegally she also took a number of holidays and bought two cars and a holiday home.

In another case before Southend Magistrates Court a man admitted failing to promptly inform Southend-on-Sea Borough Council that he was working as a traffic warden while still claiming Housing and Council Tax Benefit.

Barnaby Gazey, 36, of Oakleigh Park Drive , Leigh, also pleaded guilty to failing to inform the Council that his partner worked for EON.

As a result he incorrectly received £4,843.14 worth of Housing Benefit and £1,019.49 in Council Tax Benefit. He was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay £150 costs.

At the same court Gavin Cammidge, 33, of Saxon Gardens , Shoeburyness, was sentenced to 60 hours community service and made the subject of a 12-month community order for not declaring that his circumstances had changed in relation to his Housing and Council Tax Benefit claims.

Mr Cammidge failed to promptly notify the Council that his Working and Tax Credits had increased four times and that his wife's income had also gone up when she returned to work after her Maternity Allowance stopped.

He incorrectly received £3,539.47 worth of Housing Benefit and £1,082.62 Council Tax Benefit.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Corporate Support Services, Councillor Andrew Moring, said: "The Council is committed to paying benefits to those who are entitled to them, but we also have a duty to protect the public purse and take action against those who make fraudulent claims.

"Fraud is an offence, and repayment of benefit is not the only action that the Council may wish to take - as these cases demonstrate. Each of the three people prosecuted must pay back their illegally-obtained benefits.

"If anyone has suspicions over a person's entitlement to benefit they can call the Benefit Fraud Report Line on 01702-215215, the Investigations Team direct on 01702-215254 or e-mail counterfraud@southend.gov.uk

"All information received is treated in the strictest confidence."